Recaps

Lin Changheng received a box of rockmountain tortoise talisman ink from Tantai Feiyue and used it to raise his Rockmountain Tortoise Treasure Seed to the Fifth Layer. He refined Earth Escape to Transcendent Mastery and discovered he could travel five zhang underground while breathing for thirty breaths.

• Lin Changheng fed his young tortoise and noted that it had reached the early First Tier after two years.
• Tantai Feiyue returned to Lin Changheng, and after they spent the night together, she left him a box filled with rockmountain tortoise talisman ink.
• Lin Changheng used the ink to raise his Rockmountain Tortoise Treasure Seed to the Fifth Layer.
• Lin Changheng refined Earth Escape to Transcendent Mastery and tested his ability to sink five zhang underground and breathe there for thirty breaths.

Lin Changheng completed the Rockmountain Tortoise treasure seed’s Spirit Seizure and gained the prospect of refining the Earth Escape demon method, while balancing his cultivation with his growing relationship with Tantai Feiyue. When Mo Zhaoli arrived, Mo Zhaoli’s grandfather signaled that Lin Changheng was an important person to consult, and Mo Zhaoli reunited with him and her grandfather.

• Lin Changheng completed the Rockmountain Tortoise treasure seed’s Spirit Seizure and learned that its transformation could refine the Earth Escape demon method into his bloodline.
• Lin Changheng studied the Two-Yi Profound Furnace Secret Record and the Dragon Essence Secret Art while meeting with Tantai Feiyue, who hoped to bear his children but accepted his focus on the Great Dao.
• Mo Zhaoli arrived two days late, and Mo Zhaoli’s grandfather directed the Xu Family elders to ask Lin Changheng about her preferences for a welcome gathering.
• Lin Changheng explained Mo Zhaoli’s preferences to the Xu Family elders, who reassessed his influence and changed the welcome to a small, private gathering.
• Mo Zhaoli descended from a Dharma Boat and greeted her grandfather and Lin Changheng.

After reuniting with Mo Zhaoli, Lin Changheng learned how her perseverance had been inspired by him and discovered she planned to earn resources for Foundation Establishment in the Savage Wilderness. He offered to lend her three hundred Spirit Stones, and she accepted.

• Lin Changheng and Master Mo reunited with Mo Zhaoli, then left her and Master Mo time together after a welcoming feast.
• Mo Zhaoli visited Lin Changheng and told him that his refusal to give up had helped her persevere in the Purple Pole Sect.
• Mo Zhaoli explained that she planned to take reclamation missions in the Savage Wilderness to earn sect merits and gather resources for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• Lin Changheng offered Mo Zhaoli a loan of three hundred Spirit Stones, and she agreed to accept it.

Lin Changheng lent Mo Zhaoli three hundred spirit stones and asked her to help him obtain demon beast essence blood. She gave him Mountain-Moving Ape blood in return, allowing him to transform his Earth Escape Foreign Method into an Earth Escape Demon Method, which left him able to travel five li underground in one use.

• Lin Changheng lent Mo Zhaoli three hundred spirit stones to strengthen their dealings and asked her to look for Turbid Baleful, Mystic Spirit, or Nether Void essence blood.
• Mo Zhaoli gave Lin Changheng more than thirty bottles of Mountain-Moving Ape essence blood left over from a sect hunting mission.
• Lin Changheng and Mo Zhaoli agreed to deduct the blood’s market value from the spirit stones he had lent her.
• Lin Changheng absorbed the essence blood and used the Origin Cauldron to form a Rockmountain Tortoise True Core, Supreme.
• Lin Changheng incorporated the Earth Escape Demon Method and tested that he could travel five li underground in one use.

Lin Changheng used Mountain-Moving Ape essence blood to begin a new Spirit-Seizing Transformation and reasoned out how the Origin Cauldron selected talents. After Mo Zhaoli departed, he prepared to leave as well, but Tantai Feiyue visited him and stayed the night.

• Lin Changheng examined his spiritual roots, studied the Mountain-Moving Ape’s demon arts, and began Spirit Seizure with its essence blood.
• Lin Changheng saw that the Origin Cauldron offered Mighty Strength, Rock Armor, and Mountain-Melting, then concluded it selected three especially valuable talents from a larger set.
• Mo Zhaoli told Lin Changheng she planned to leave for her assignment and that the Xu Family had agreed to support her in exchange for her future goodwill.
• Tantai Feiyue visited Lin Changheng on the evening of Mo Zhaoli’s departure and stayed with him until morning.

Lin Changheng traveled with the Xu Family caravan to Azure Spirit Ward, where he arrived to take up his post as chief alchemist at the new Xu Family Alchemy Shop. He reached the shop and was greeted by a familiar elder.

• Lin Changheng rode toward Azure Spirit Ward with Xu Xulin and the Xu Family caravan while concealing his appearance.
• Lin Changheng and Xu Xulin discussed the missing Chen Guqing, and Lin Changheng hid his knowledge that Xu Xulin might be testing him.
• The caravan passed through cultivated land that the Liu and Xu Families had transformed using Dustless Valley's spirit vein and spirit plants.
• Lin Changheng entered Azure Spirit Ward, restored his true appearance, and went to the Xu Family Alchemy Shop.
• An aged, familiar voice welcomed Lin Changheng as the shop's chief alchemist.

Lin Changheng took up his post as chief alchemist at the Xu Family Alchemy Shop in Azure Spirit Ward and reunited with Shopkeeper Xu Qianyou, whose appointment he had recommended. At the shop’s official opening, he met Liu Fengjie and Liu Qingyao and began forming ties with the Liu Family.

• Lin Changheng warmly reunited with Xu Qianyou and toured the shop, learning how its chief alchemist and shopkeeper divided their duties.
• Lin Changheng greeted the shop assistants and learned that Xu Qianyou had been left idle until Lin recommended him for the shopkeeper position.
• The Xu Family Alchemy Shop officially opened, and visitors from across the market ward came to congratulate Lin and build connections.
• Liu Fengjie and Liu Qingyao visited the opening, and Lin welcomed them and spoke with them about the Xu and Liu Families’ close ties.
• After the Liu Family guests departed, Xu Qianyou told Lin that Liu Fengjie oversaw cooperation between the families and Liu Qingyao was being groomed as a possible successor.

Lin Changheng refined his first high-grade pill, a superior-grade Jade Marrow Pill, with the Xu Family’s support. After notifying the family of his success, he visited the newly opened Profound Qilin Residence, where a Sun Clan member recognized him and offered to attend to him.

• Lin Changheng asked the Xu Family to provide a high-grade pill formula, ingredients, and an alchemist’s experience notes, and the family sent them with Xu Qianzhan and apprentice Xu Qi'an.
• After preparing carefully, Lin Changheng shut himself in the Alchemy Chamber to attempt high-grade pill refining while Xu Qianyou waited outside.
• Seven days later, Lin Changheng emerged with a sealed pill box and showed Xu Qianyou the First-Tier Superior-Grade Jade Marrow Pill he had refined.
• Lin Changheng approved sending news of his success back to the Xu Family, then went to the Sun Clan’s newly opened Profound Qilin Residence.
• A person inside the residence recognized Lin Changheng as the Xu Family Alchemy Shop chief and said they would attend to him personally.

Lin Changheng visited Shopkeeper Sun’s Beast-Taming Clan shop to buy demon beast essence blood and learned about the clan’s exclusive Redcloud Crane. He purchased the shop’s entire stock of fifty portions, despite the high price and lack of a discount.

• Lin Changheng asked Shopkeeper Sun for a large quantity of essence blood from beasts with turbid baleful bloodlines.
• Shopkeeper Sun said the shop had three types, but only the Redcloud Crane blood was available in large quantities.
• Shopkeeper Sun explained the Sun Clan’s exclusive Redcloud Cranes and described other beasts the clan raised.
• Lin Changheng asked about beasts with profound spirit bloodlines, but Shopkeeper Sun declined to reveal the reason they were not raised on a large scale.
• Shopkeeper Sun offered fifty portions of Redcloud Crane essence blood for five low-grade spirit stones each and refused a discount under clan rules.
• Lin Changheng accepted the price and asked Shopkeeper Sun to bring him all fifty portions.

Lin Changheng secured a regular supply of Redcloud Crane essence blood, then disguised himself to collect Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox essence blood at the Liu Family’s Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion. There he learned of discounted Green-Eyed Mystic Python essence blood containing Thunder Sha and examined a sample.

• Lin Changheng arranged for the Profound Qilin Residence to reserve all of its Redcloud Crane essence blood for him and deliver future stock to his shop.
• Seven days later, Lin Changheng changed his appearance, went to the Liu Family’s Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion, and completed the transfer of Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox essence blood.
• A young attendant connected Lin Changheng to a distinguished customer at the Desolate Ruins Market and explained how the shop learned of his needs.
• The attendant told Lin Changheng about Green-Eyed Mystic Python essence blood tainted with Thunder Sha and offered it for twelve Spirit Stones per portion.
• Lin Changheng examined a drop of the essence blood and felt its numbness as faint purple arcs flickered across his fingertip.

Lin Changheng bought wood-element Profound Spirit Essence Blood and reflected on his dwindling funds and the loss of his usual supply of demon beast essence blood. He befriended formation master Jin Geng, who was helping him seek a formation inheritance, and ended the chapter preparing to use the essence blood.

• Lin Changheng bought Profound Spirit Essence Blood after bargaining down its price, then calculated how much he had spent and worried about losing his regular source of demon beast essence blood.
• Lin Changheng met Shopkeeper Jin at the Golden Light Formation Shop and thanked him for seeking a formation inheritance through his clan.
• Jin Geng said he was unconcerned about clashing with his clan elders and agreed to craft Lin Changheng a formation set in the future, possibly of superior grade.
• Lin Changheng returned to his fourth-floor room, activated the isolation formation, and gazed at the crimson essence blood tinged with purple.

Lin Changheng absorbed demon beast essence blood and gained the divine ability true intent of Flourishing life, then tested its power and refined a new disguise technique. The chapter leaves him receiving word that someone from the clan has arrived.

• Lin Changheng absorbed the demon beast essence blood and completed the transformation of his Lantern Grass Spirit Dao Fruit.
• Lin Changheng incorporated Flourishing life, extending his lifespan by thirty years and reviving a withered spirit herb at the cost of much of his mana.
• The next day, Lin Changheng sealed away the uncontrollable thunder sha for possible future use.
• Lin Changheng refined the Flame-Tailed Spirit Fox talent Illusory Appearance Shift into a difficult-to-detect disguise technique.
• An assistant told Lin Changheng that someone from the clan had arrived.

Lin Changheng passed the Xu Family’s assessment and became a High-Grade Alchemist, earning a place among its upper ranks. After half a year of service and careful preparation, he performed Spirit Seizure on two hundred portions of Redcloud Crane essence blood, and one of the resulting talents shocked him.

• Lin Changheng destroyed the revived spirit plant before meeting Xu Qianyan, who assessed him as an alchemist.
• Lin Changheng refined pills in the Alchemy Chamber for five days and successfully advanced to High-Grade Alchemist.
• Xu Qianyan announced Lin Changheng’s advancement, and the Xu Family celebrated with gifts and a banquet.
• Over the following half year, Lin Changheng exchanged letters with Tantai Jiyue, gained upper-rank privileges in the Xu Family, and declined three proposed marriage alliances.
• Lin Changheng received the third installment of Redcloud Crane essence blood, bringing his total to two hundred portions, and performed Spirit Seizure.
• Lin Changheng saw one of the three talents produced by Spirit Seizure and reacted with shock.

Lin Changheng refined the Redcloud Demon Flame treasure seed, gaining a portable Divergent Flame and greater resistance to fire. He tested its power and then turned to his need for spirit stones, planning to sell stolen goods to fund his cultivation and future Foundation Establishment.

• Lin Changheng chose to refine Redcloud Demon Flame instead of Red Feather Cloudstride or Fierce Iron Claw.
• The Origin Cauldron transformed the chosen talent into a first-stage Redcloud Demon Flame within Lin Changheng's Dantian.
• Lin Changheng tested the flame and combined it with his Fire-Control Divine Ability to form a powerful fireball.
• Lin Changheng reflected on his pill-refining progress and his need for spirit stones to buy demon beast essence blood and prepare for Foundation Establishment.
• Lin Changheng decided to disguise himself and visit a well-regarded equipment shop in the market ward to sell his accumulated stolen goods.

Lin Changheng refused low offers for a superior-grade defensive Dharma Artifact and followed a recruiter to a secret shop operating inside the market ward. After inspecting its underground auction room, he went to ask about consigning his artifact.

• Lin Changheng rejected the Artifact Mending Pavilion’s offer of three hundred spirit stones and turned down other shops’ offers, which peaked at three hundred and seventy.
• A scholar-looking cultivator approached Lin Changheng and explained that he worked for a secret shop that bought and auctioned Dharma Artifacts.
• Lin Changheng questioned the scholar about the shop’s connections and rules, then agreed to follow him there.
• The scholar led Lin Changheng through a hidden entrance, where Granny Wu guided him into the underground secret shop.
• Lin Changheng saw a masked auction in progress and entered the consignment room to ask about its rules.

Lin Changheng auctioned three Dharma Artifacts and collected about six hundred and fifty low-grade spirit stones. Before he could leave, bidding began on a withered Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus root, and Lin Changheng offered seventy spirit stones.

• Lin Changheng consigned a superior-grade defensive Dharma Artifact and two worn mid-grade artifacts to the auction.
• The superior-grade artifact sold for five hundred and thirty spirit stones, while the other two sold for less than two hundred combined.
• Lin Changheng collected about six hundred and fifty spirit stones from the auction house.
• An elderly man presented a withered root said to be from a Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus, one of the principal ingredients for a Foundation Establishment Pill.
• After cultivators discussed the root's apparent worthlessness, bidding rose to fifty-five spirit stones and then stopped.
• Lin Changheng quietly bid seventy spirit stones for the root.

Lin Changheng discovered that reviving the second-tier Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus required spending lifespan, then protected and accelerated its growth while preparing for Foundation Establishment. The chapter ended as his origin treasure seed began its fifth level of spirit seizure.

• Lin Changheng won the Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus roots at auction and planted them, but his Flourishing Life Divine Ability could not revive them at first.
• Lin Changheng tested two first-tier spirit plants and determined that the fungus roots’ second-tier status caused the difference.
• Lin Changheng drew on the green vitality he had glimpsed in the Origin Cauldron’s withered world, sacrificing one year of lifespan to revive the roots.
• Lin Changheng found that mana infused with his divine ability could then promote the fungus’s growth, and he bought formations from Jin Geng to guard and conceal it.
• Lin Changheng felt his essence blood being drawn out and realized that his origin treasure seed was entering its fifth level of spirit seizure.

Lin Changheng refined enhanced comprehension and discovered that his Origin Treasure Seed could continue beyond its fifth layer, then chose clear heart as his next talent. After two years at Azure Spirit Ward, he learned that Xu Bai-he had gone missing in the Savage Wilderness.

• Lin Changheng refined the fifth-layer treasure seed and gained heaven-gifted enhanced comprehension, helping him discern solutions to the Dao of Alchemy.
• After the next monthly extraction, Lin Changheng learned he could choose another talent and selected clear heart while retaining his accumulated progress.
• Lin Changheng reached thirty strands in his fire spiritual root and spent two years refining pills at Azure Spirit Ward, while the Xu Family prepared to publicize his High-Grade Alchemist status.
• The Xu Family offered Lin Changheng the Evergreen Azurewood Body cultivation method as he prepared for Foundation Establishment.
• Xu Qi'an urgently told Lin Changheng that Xu Bai-he had gone missing in the Savage Wilderness.

Lin Changheng returned to the lineage after hearing that Bai Fengxian had died, intending to honor their old burial pact. At Bai Fengxian’s funeral, Xu Fugui told him that the Qiu Family had taken over the resource site where the fatal incident occurred, leaving Lin to suspect them.

• Lin Changheng left the market ward to return to the lineage after learning of Bai Fengxian’s death and entrusted his growing nine-leaf violet cinnabar fungus to the formations.
• On the journey, Lin Changheng met Xu Liuli and her husband, who learned of his standing as the Xu Family’s chief alchemist before they parted at the riverbank.
• At Bai Fengxian’s home, Lin Changheng paid his respects and discussed funeral arrangements and support for the bereaved family with Xu Fugui.
• Xu Fugui told Lin Changheng that demon beasts and traces of cultivators had been found at the scene, and that the Qiu Family of Flying Cloud Valley had occupied the resource site afterward.
• Lin Changheng identified the Qiu Family as the prime suspect in Bai Fengxian’s death.

After Bai Fengxian was buried, Lin Changheng and Xu Fugui mourned him before Lin reunited with Tantai Feiyue at the Cloud Gazing Dao Site. The next day, Lin saw the Black-Armored Earth Turtle she had cared for during their two years apart.

• The Xu Family debated whether to fight the Qiu Family, while Lin Changheng chose to stay out of the dispute and wait for a suitable chance to take revenge for Old Bai.
• Lin Changheng and Xu Fugui buried Bai Fengxian beside Green Mountain and spent the night drinking before his grave.
• Lin Changheng returned to his courtyard, where Tantai Feiyue welcomed him after two years apart.
• The next day, Lin Changheng and Tantai Feiyue visited the Black-Armored Earth Turtle, and Lin praised her for raising it well.

Lin Changheng visited Tantai Feiyue, accepted a Beauty-Preserving Pill that revealed a weak lifespan-extending effect, and gave her elixirs to support her cultivation. After warning her against meeting Jin Liyue, he returned home and found a Xu family member waiting with a summons from the family head and eldest young lady.

• Lin Changheng rewarded the Black-Armored Earth Turtle with an elixir while Tantai Feiyue told him the turtle had begun treating them as snacks.
• Tantai Feiyue gave Lin Changheng a Beauty-Preserving Pill, and he discovered it contained a weak form of lifespan extension sharing a source with his own ability.
• Tantai Feiyue offered Lin Changheng mid-grade premium talismans, and he accepted them after she insisted they would protect him.
• Tantai Feiyue explained that she had reached the qi refining seventh layer without taking a Realm-Breaking Pill, and Lin Changheng left two bottles of superior-grade elixirs to aid her cultivation.
• Tantai Feiyue told Lin Changheng that Jin Liyue had asked to meet her, and Lin Changheng advised her not to go.
• A Xu family member met Lin Changheng outside his courtyard and said the family head and eldest young lady wanted to see him.

Lin Changheng met with Xu Xuheng and Xu Hanwu to discuss the Xu and Liu Families’ plans for an Azure Spirit Ward auction and the cultivation resources needed for his Evergreen Azurewood Body. He accepted the alchemy assignment and received a tested supporting method, while Xu Hanwu confirmed the clan could help source its supplies.

• Xu Xuheng told Lin Changheng that the Xu Family and Liu Family would develop the Azure Spirit Ward and establish an auction to attract visitors.
• Xu Xuheng asked Lin Changheng to work with Elder Qianyan to refine Breath-Sealing Pills, Beauty-Preserving Pills, and Demon-Repelling Pills, and Lin Changheng agreed.
• Xu Xuheng said Xu Hanwu would oversee the auction in the Azure Spirit Ward and work with Lin Changheng.
• Xu Hanwu explained that the Evergreen Azurewood Body required a supporting method and special resources, then demonstrated the technique and gave Lin Changheng a jade slip.
• Lin Changheng examined the method and asked whether the clan could help purchase the materials, and Xu Hanwu confirmed it could.

Lin Changheng used spirit materials from Xu Hanwu to temper his body and discovered that his self-healing method let him train more often than ordinary cultivators. After visiting friends and spending time with Tantai Feiyue at the Xu Family Base, he departed by boat along the Blackwater River.

• Xu Hanwu gave Lin Changheng six months' worth of spirit liquid and spirit wood as a gift.
• Lin Changheng used Azure Dragonwood and Dewpine Spirit Liquid to temper his body, then found that his self-healing method instantly repaired the injuries caused by training.
• Lin Changheng learned that Xu Fugui had stopped having children to preserve his remaining hope of Foundation Establishment, while his children were growing up well.
• Lin Changheng praised Xu Fugui's son Xu Qi'an's talent for alchemy and said he had entered the late stage of cultivation and would attempt Foundation Establishment.
• Lin Changheng visited Master Mo, Xu Xuzhong, and others, then spent his remaining time with Tantai Feiyue before leaving by boat on the Blackwater River.

After three years of cultivation, Lin Changheng broke through to the qi refining ninth layer and prepared to leave Azure Spirit Ward. He met with Xu Hanwu to thank her and asked about the conflict with the Qiu Family, learning that the Liu and Xu families had warned the Qiu Family against using bandit cultivators to disrupt trade.

• Lin Changheng used a Red Heaven Dharma Pill and crushed two mid-grade spirit stones to break through to the qi refining ninth layer.
• Lin Changheng stabilized his cultivation, concealed it as the qi refining seventh layer, and left seclusion to meet Xu Hanwu before departing.
• Xu Hanwu congratulated Lin Changheng and said his help and their friendship made formal thanks unnecessary.
• Lin Changheng asked Xu Hanwu about tensions between the Xu and Qiu families, and she explained that the Liu Family had joined the Xu Family in developing an auction.
• After the Qiu Family considered disguising its people as bandit cultivators to scare travelers away from Azure Spirit Ward, the Liu Family threatened to treat any such attacks as an undeclared act of war.

Lin Changheng returned to the Xu Family Alchemy Shop and accepted Old Daoist Fang’s request to refine high-grade Poison Transformation Elixirs. After checking that his room was secure, he removed the maze array to inspect his Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus.

• Xu Hanji spoke with Lin Changheng about the ongoing conflict between the Xu Family and the Qiu Family, then left while privately regretting that he and Tantai Feiyue were already together.
• Lin Changheng returned to the shop, where cultivators greeted him warmly and foreign visitors learned that he was a High-Grade Alchemist.
• Old Daoist Fang asked Lin Changheng to refine a furnace of high-grade Poison Transformation Elixirs, claiming he had found a treasure plant in a cavern filled with toxic miasma.
• Lin Changheng checked Fang’s pill formula and medicinal materials, accepted the commission, and agreed to have the elixirs ready in seven days.
• After confirming that no one had entered his room, Lin Changheng safely undid the maze array and looked toward his Nine-Leaf Violet Cinnabar Fungus.